Reigning IBF bantamweight champion Stuart Hall has a fascinating defence against challenger Paul Butler in an all-British encounter in Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena on Saturday night. It is set to be an explosive clash – pitching contrasting styles.

Opinion is divided. Hall will not give up the title lightly, having been reinforced through a life change, though Butler looks to be the growing force.

Hardened Hall is a solid, respected world champion; Butler, the young upstart; flashy, unbeaten, the challenger.

Hall, the former British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion, won the vacant IBF crown in dramatic style when he defeated teak-tough South African Vusi Malinga last December. It was hailed as one of the performances of 2013 by a British boxer.

The reformed Ibiza ‘party animal’ was inspired in one of the great performances in a British ring. With his left eye totally closed and grotesquely swollen, and cuts above both, he battled away to claim the belt on the scorecards.

In his first defence, Hall, 34, retained the title over Martin Ward, winning after a round one clash of heads, with Ward unable to continue.

Now a different challenge altogether. Intriguingly, Hall and Butler have been sparring partners, and the champion claims to have had the better of the challenger. But how often have gym fights translated to the same language under the bright lights in front of a baying crowd?

"Butler is a very good fighter. His performances have got himself into this position, but he's also talked himself into this fight by making derogatory comments. I'll make him eat his words," said Hall.

There will be plenty of backing for Butler. After winning the 2010 ABA super-flyweight title, the 25-year-old hasn’t put a foot wrong since his 2011 pro debut, undefeated in 15 fights with a 60 per cent KO rate.

The move up to bantam came this year after success at super-flyweight, where he claimed the British, Commonwealth, WBO and WBA Inter-continental titles.

He caused a major stir on his bantamweight debut in March against Argentinian Oreste Bernabe Nieva – a man who had never been previously stopped.

He has been hailed in some quarters as “the new Ricky Hatton”, not least for his vicious attacks alternating between head and body. There are strains of Barry McGuigan here, too.

Yet Hall insisted this week that Butler is in for a rude awakening. “He’s lost the plot. He’s saying I’ll be blowing after four rounds, and that he’s going to up the gears. He thinks he’s some sort of superman.”

“I’ve never wished my life away so much; I’ve been wishing the days away, because I’m going to do a number on Paul Butler I’ll win this fight by whatever means possible. Hopefully it’ll be a proper good stoppage, because I really want to stop him and show him that I am the real-deal,” said a determined Hall.

Former cruiserweight world champion Glenn McCrory concurs and is predicting that although Butler is an immensely talented fighter, this opportunity has come too early for the 25-year-old prodigy.

“I think it’s a good fight,” explained Mccrory, who won the IBF cruiserweight belt in 1989. “Paul Butler is a very good talent. He’s the smaller man and people are wondering if he’s got the power and the strength to do it. I can just see this fight has come too soon for Butler. He would have done better with some more fights.”

“It’s very easy to underestimate Stuey Hall because he’s not a flash, mouthy individual. But he is solid, trains very hard and what he does, he does very well. He is going to be a very hard man to derail. I think Butler will come again but I think this fight is too early. Hall is bigger, stronger, more accomplished and more experienced.”

McCrory has a point, and with Butler coming up a division, as the smaller man, whether his power comes with him may be another matter.

Hall is a proud fighter and may prove durable again. But if Butler can use his movement, and explode with his combinations and body shots, particularly with the left, the rising Liverpool star could usurp the title.

In the United States, trainer Freddie Roach has claimed WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez ‘has nothing left’ as the Argentine defends his world title against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden.

Hostilities between the camps were heightened earlier this week when it was claimed Team Cotto were against the 39-year-old Martinez wearing a knee brace in their bout, stating that it could be hazardous to the Puerto Rican star.

However, the New York State Athletic Commission ruled in favour of the Argentine Martinez, who will now be allowed to wear the supportive sleeve on the right knee which he injured during his bout with Britain’s Martin Murray last year.

“There are no issues with the sheath I will be using for my knee on fight night,” said Martinez. “Once the commission saw what it actually was I was using, they were completely okay with it. It was very hard for me to come back from this [the knee and shoulder injury], but I have an excellent team behind me, and more than that I have my ego and that is what drove me to get back to where I was before the injuries occurred. I don’t know who brought up the issue about the sheath I am wearing on my knee. Whether it was the commission or Cotto’s team directly I am not sure,” he said.

“The only one who will pay for it though is Miguel Cotto on June 7th. I feel great, and you will see that come Saturday night. I am totally 100% healthy. My doctor told me that I only need to wear it as a precaution, so I am following my doctor’s orders,” Martinez added.

Cotto’s trainer, Roach – who teamed up with the 33-year-old last year - has been vocal during fight week, questioning Martinez’s chin and claiming that he is shot as a fighter.

“Sergio is in over his head on this one. We worked on fighting southpaws and have it down to a science now. Miguel will have no trouble with Sergio’s style. Working opposite Miguel with Manny Pacquiao gave me great insight to Miguel’s flaws,” said Roach.

“It taught me his weaknesses and during this camp I was able to eliminate them. The wear and tear of the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr fight ruined Martinez. He has nothing left. Miguel is the fresher fighter,” he said.

The contest may come down to ring generalship, in a battle between two hardened, veterans just past their best. It could be Martinez’s power late in the bout which proves decisive, or Cotto’s wizened experience in winning championship rounds. It’s a pick ‘em fight.

The UK and USA cards are live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD & Virgin 546) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.